Infamous Shifter's Genesis

Chapter 11

As Damian and Trish made their way back to the clinic with the boxes of medical supplies in hand, Damian took the opportunity to inquire about Cole's condition. He asked, "How's Cole doing? Is he getting better?"

Trish's response held a note of surprise and amazement. "He's doing quite well, actually. His burns are healing incredibly fast. I've never seen anything like it."

While Trish found Cole's recovery remarkable, Damian couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Being aware of Cole's Conduit abilities, he knew that the healing process would be swift. He thought to himself, 'Well yeah, he's a conduit, so of course he'd heal fast. Actually, if he absorbed some electricity, he'd be up and about today.'

"I'm glad to hear he's recovering," said Damian as he thought to himself, 'Well if my memories are correct, he should awaken by tomorrow. Then he'll have about two days to get the hang of his powers before things really start. Anyways, we should hurry. Sasha should have already started building her faction, so I'd like to avoid the Reapers.'

As Damian and Trish were making their way back to the clinic with the boxes of medical supplies, they heard a sudden, blood-curdling scream of a woman piercing through the air. Damian wasn't initially inclined to investigate, but before he could voice his hesitation, Trish unceremoniously dumped her box of supplies on top of Damian's and sprinted in the direction of the scream. Damian couldn't just stand by and decided to follow closely behind her.

As they hurried to the source of the scream, their eyes fell upon a chilling sight. A Reaper, one of the gang members known for causing chaos and destruction, stood before them. The Reaper was clad in a red hooded trench coat, and their face and hood were adorned with white skulls, creating a menacing appearance.

The Reaper was armed with an assault rifle, and the terror on the face of the victim was unmistakable. It seemed they died in fear. As Damian slowly put the boxes of medical supplies down and was about to tell Trish to run, the Reaper opened fire.

Damian pushed Trish out of the way but suffered multiple gunshots to the chest. Of course, as a being made of living biomass, things like bullets just lodged themselves into him, unable to pierce him deeply due to him being so dense.

With his new speed and agility from consuming a cheetah, Damian skillfully dodged all the bullets and arrived before the Reaper, whom he grabbed and proceeded to electrocute like an eel. The electrical charge seemed to cause the Reaper to collapse as he died from the shock.

Leveraging his newfound speed and agility, a result of consuming the cheetah, Damian skillfully evaded each bullet, demonstrating a level of agility that left the Reaper's attacks futile. In a blur of motion, Damian closed the gap and grabbed the Reaper, his touch delivering an electrifying shock akin to an electric eel's charge.

The powerful electrical surge coursed through the Reaper, causing their body to convulse in pain. It was clear that they were unable to withstand the surge, and soon enough, they collapsed, lifeless, under the powerful voltage.

The threat had been swiftly neutralized, and the victim, who was already dead when they arrived, remained unchanged. Damian walked over to Trish and noticed her top was stained red with blood. It seemed one of the Reaper's earlier shots had found their target. Trish was still conscious, one of the shots having most likely punctured her lung, causing her breathing to be labored as she gasped for air.

Having consumed many injured people up till now, Damian instinctively knew he could see the severity of her wound. The gunshot had caused significant internal damage, making her breathing labored and her condition precarious. He realized that, despite their best efforts, Trish would likely die even if treated right now.

Trish, in her moments of struggle, managed to convey a heartfelt message to Damian. Her words were filled with genuine remorse and affection, and the weight of her emotions was unmistakable. She asked him to pass on a message to Cole, expressing her love and regret.

"Damian... tell Cole... I'm sorry and... I love him," she gasped, her voice filled with sincerity before falling unconscious.

Damian, with deep worry in his eyes, sighed and looked down at her. "Why don't you tell him yourself, Trish? Hold on."

Damian laid Trish on the ground and walked over to the dead reaper and victim. After removing the woman's top, he shifted to his biomass form, he promptly consumed them. Damian used the shirt from the lifeless woman to apply pressure on Trish's wound. He lifted her gently and cradled her in his arms, carefully carrying her as he headed towards Oscar's Medical.

His decision was fueled by the realization that time was of the essence. The closest option for getting Trish medical attention was Oscar's, and he knew they needed to act fast to have any chance of saving her life.

As Damian walked with Trish in his arms, the gravity of the situation weighed on him. Her life was hanging in the balance, and he couldn't help, but think about how the simple act of introducing her to Amanda had caused a cascade of events that would most likely end up with her dead. Although he was trying to save her his instincts told him this person would die so he should consume her. Looking at her in this state Damian knew it was true.

With a sense of urgency, Damian entered Oscar's Medical with Trish still in his arms. Oscar, the clinic's owner, was taken aback by the sudden entrance and the wounded woman in Damian's arms. "What happened?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

Damian didn't waste any time explaining and asked for a place to set Trish down. Once he had her comfortably positioned, he made a request for specific medical supplies—a pair of pliers, a needle, thread, and alcohol. It was as if he had a clear understanding of what needed to be done.

Oscar hurriedly fetched the requested items, believing that Damian was also a doctor and had some knowledge of treating wounds. The urgency in the room was palpable as they prepared to do whatever they could to save Trish's life. Oscar deciding he would be in the way exited the room.

With a focused and determined expression, Damian began the process of removing the bullet from Trish's wound, his hands steady as he worked. However, as the bullet came free, a sudden gush of blood followed, indicating a far more severe injury than he had initially realized. Trish's face contorted in pain, and her labored breathing intensified.

It became apparent that the bullet had nicked an artery, causing her to bleed profusely. Damian's inherited skills and knowledge weren't sufficient to handle this dire situation. Panic and desperation filled the room as he struggled to stem the bleeding, but it was too late. Trish's life gradually slipped away, and despite his best efforts, Damian couldn't save her as his instincts had warned him.